Location, Location, Location
When NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) expanded the program to the Jonesboro campus of Arkansas State University, Alyssa Weyer knew she wanted to be a part of the inaugural class. “NYIT was my top pick because of the location,” she says. “When I heard there was an osteopathic medical school coming to my hometown, I was elated.”
Her excitement about the NYIT campus wasn’t just due to her personal interest in the field of study. “Not only was the location splendid, but NYIT’s goal to increase and expand on the number of physicians in the Delta [region] is a must, especially because of the multiple underserved areas around the region.”
Once she began classes, Weyer wasted no time jumping into campus life. During her first year, she served as the Inaugural Class of 2020 class officer and was chosen to serve as a teaching assistant in gross anatomy, a role she still holds today. She also served on the Student Government Association Committee, the Fitness Friday group workouts, and participated in multiple clubs on campus, including the Internal medicine club, Pediatrics club, Surgical club, and the Christian organization.
Weyer’s academic and extracurricular activities were not limited to the school year. Over the summer of 2017, she assisted Assistant Professor Troy Camarata, Ph.D., in his study on kidney regeneration in zebrafish. “I was able to assist him with a project to investigate if a specific gene associated with kidney development was primarily affected,” she explains. “It was a wonderful experience that helped prepare me for nephrology and embryology. It also helped me apply techniques I learned in class to a real world setting.”
Weyer is not deterred by the fact that osteopathic medicine might be a lesser-known field of study than other concentrations. “I am excited to explain what osteopathic manipulative medicine is to family and friends who have not been exposed to it before,” Weyer says. “Osteopathic medicine has a unique take on patient care. It provides a leg up in the world of medicine when providing care and diagnosing patients.”
